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In mid-September I received an e-mail from Peter Tan,Master of the 1st District of Texas. Due to numerous activities he or others could not attend a ceremony to distribute wheelchairs to needy people of the Diocese of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.He asked me to represent the Knights of Columbus of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on the week-end of 16-18 October.I was honored and emphatically agreed to go in his stead.Furthermore he designated State Deputy, Javier Martinez, and wife, Marietta, to be my personal chauffeurs!

The production was orchestrated by the American Wheelchair Mission, of Camarillo, CA, a partner of global Wheelchair Foundation, headquartered in Danville, CA. The global organization has donated more than 756,000 wheelchairs since its founding in 2000.The president of American Wheelchair, Christopher J. Lewis, and his son, Josh, led the proceedings in conjunction with the council of Los Caballeros de Colon (Knights of Columbus) of Nuevo Laredo, and Council 7613 from St. Mark the Evangelist Parish of San Antonio, TX.Knights from six Texas dioceses were headed by SD Javier Martinez.Brother Filadelfo Medellin, State Deputy for Northern Mexico led the Mexican contingent.A total of 280 wheelchairs were donated --110 extras from the mission there in February, and 170 from a parish in Los Angeles,CA.Numerous wives and children of the knights from both sides of the border were present at all activities for the three days.

On Saturday 17 October the ceremony began with the 10 o'clock Mass startingpromptly at 10:46 in one of the parish churches.(There was no grumbling by people who had other things to do).Unpacking and positioning of the wheelchairs and awaiting arrival of the persons who were to receive a wheelchair accounted for the delay, but the church was packed for start of Mass. After Mass the recipients were carried, came on crutches, or were wheeled in, or propelled their old wheelchairs.The recipients came in all ages, and with various maladies.A joyous look was on the face of most; on the others the joy was present in the faces of their families or other caretakers.Time, space, and insufficient talent preclude me from describing the depth of feeling I experienced, or that exhibited by that of others present -- recipients or spectators.Our activities ended that evening at the council hall where the local knights and their wives provided a delicious meal replete with a very good mariachi(?) band -- five talented singer-musicians.The next day formal functions terminated with Mass at the Cathedral, after which Javier, Marietta, and I started homeward.

Brother knights, if you have the opportunity to participate in the wheelchair missions, do so -- you will be humbled by the awareness that you are a Knight of Columbus, and that this is one of our callings.